Abstract: A stringless portable electronic training device for a stringed instrument, such as a contrabass, has the shape of a fingerboard with just enough neck to provide realistic left hand position, and just enough body to contain actuators corresponding with strings, electronics, a speaker, and an output jack. On the fingerboard are rows of push buttons corresponding with the location of the notes. The push buttons are held down to select notes which are sounded by actuators at a lower end of the fingerboard. Actuating without the pressing of a button produces the note of the open string. The actuators may include a set of flippers that replicate the plucking of strings and a set of elongated buttons that sustain a bowed sound as they are pressed down. The sound is produced electronically through a built-in speaker and/or output jack.

Abstract: An adapter device is disclosed for removably securing a carrying strap to a guitar or other musical instrument provided with a strap mounting button. The adapter device includes a housing defining a cavity for receipt of a clamp member movably mounted to the housing. The housing has a strap stud and a threaded nut for securing the housing to the carrying musical instrument. The clamp member has an elongate slot for receipt of a shaft of the mounting button of the musical instrument. The clamp member further includes an enlarged cavity for receipt of an enlarged circular head of the mounting button to prevent the mounting button from pulling out of the slot in the clamp member. A latch member is movably mounted to the housing and movable from an unlocking position to a locking position covering the clamp member and securing the clamp member within the cavity of the housing. tab is provided on the latch member to secure the latch member in the locking position.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for representing music in a three dimensions using contexts based around tonal centers, to form three dimensional geometric shapes. The musical notation method described herein is easy to understand and visualize. The method is based on three dimensional structures which may represent contexts. The contexts may be formed by combining diminished and augmented scales shown as symmetrical three dimensional geometric shapes. These symmetrical geometric shapes may be formed from a plurality of polygons, which may include polygons comprised of a set of related notes from a diminished or augmented scale, together forming a looped harmonic polygon. Each note in a respective scale is placed at a vertex of a harmonic polygon, wherein the vertices of the harmonic polygons are selected from notes in a twelve note chromatic scale.

Abstract: A system and method for providing a protective extra low voltage power supply in an elevator system (2) is disclosed. The power supply system (10) may include a switch mode power supply (12) configured to provide an output voltage, a first voltage monitor (18) and a second voltage monitor (20). Each of the first voltage monitor (18) and the second voltage monitor (20) may be configured to receive the output voltage and determine an over-voltage condition at the switch mode power supply (12).

Abstract: A snare drum having an improved throw off includes a strainer shaft and a strainer bar both extending through the interior of the drum shell. The strainer bar is linked to the strainer shaft, a snare assembly is connected to the strainer bar, and a handle rotates the strainer shaft which moves the strainer bar and snare assembly between an upper position in which the snares of the snare assembly are engaged with the bottom head of the drum, and lower position in which the snares are disengaged from the bottom head. The snares are in parallel relation to the bottom head of the drum throughout the range of movement between the upper and lower positions. In one embodiment, the drum comprises a wood laminate and the top and bottom shell caps comprise carbon fiber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method in rope condition monitoring of an elevator, in which method at least the following steps are performed: elevator suspension and/or transmission ropes are reeled and packed on a rope storage unit, and thereafter electrical resistance between a first point and a second point of elevator suspension and/or transmission ropes is measured first time, and thereafter a threshold value is determined based on the measurement, and thereafter rope is delivered into an installation site, and thereafter electrical resistance between the first point and the second point of said suspension and/or transmission ropes is measured second time, and thereafter results of said second time measurement are compared with said threshold value, and if said second time measurement meets said threshold value, predetermined actions are carried out. The invention also relates to an arrangement in rope condition monitoring of an elevator.

Abstract: A ropeless elevator system, a propulsion system, and a method for operating a ropeless propulsion system are disclosed. The ropeless elevator system may include an elevator car, a hoistway in which the elevator car travels, and a ropeless propulsion system. The ropeless propulsion system may include electrical windings energized by a power source, the electrical windings affixed to a stationary structure, the stationary structure associated with the hoistway, and a magnet, the magnet affixed to a moving structure, the moving structure associated with the elevator car, and interaction between the electrical windings and the magnet generates a thrust force on the elevator car traveling in the hoistway.

Abstract: A mute for a brass instrument includes a body and a locking mechanism. The body includes a sheet of rollable material configured to roll into a cone shaped mute. The locking mechanism is configured to lock the rolled sheet of rollable material as the cone shaped mute. The mute may be transported or stored in a flat form of the body. The body has a substantially semi-circle shape when flat that is configured to roll into the cone shaped mute. The substantially semi-circle shape of the body has an outer diameter when flat configured to create an open end of the cone shaped mute when rolled into the cone shaped mute. The open end of the cone shaped mute is sized to match a rim of a bell of the brass instrument.

Abstract: A compact assembly for retaining a bass drum in position on a playing surface while it is played by a drummer seated on a drum stool. The compact assembly includes a mat component having a length and a width. The length of the mat component is sufficient to allow both a bass drum and a drum stool to be operatively positioned on opposite ends thereof while the mat component is disposed in an open operative configuration. A retention component comprises a retention member secured to a portion of one end of the mat component, and a cushion member is affixed to at least one side of the retention member. The cushion member engages a portion of the bass drum when the bass drum is disposed in an operative orientation on the mat component, thereby retaining the bass drum in position while a drummer is playing.

Abstract: A motor vehicle includes a loudspeaker, a voice recognition module, and a microphone producing a microphone signal based upon words uttered by a human passenger within a passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. An electronic processor is communicatively coupled to the microphone, the loudspeaker, and the voice recognition module. The electronic processor receives the microphone signal and communicates with the voice recognition module to thereby ascertain the words uttered by the human passenger. The electronic processor retrieves Karaoke music corresponding to the ascertained words uttered by the human passenger, and plays the Karaoke music on the loudspeaker.

Abstract: A device for reading waveform data of a musical tone from a primary storage device and transferring the read waveform data to a secondary storage device for tone reproduction includes a processor configured to perform: retrieving, for each waveform of a plurality of waveforms that represent a musical tone stored in the primary storage device, segment group information from the primary storage device; retrieving the plurality of waveforms that represent the musical tone from the primary storage device, the waveform group retrieval process retrieving a waveform or waveforms, among the plurality of waveforms, that have the same segment group information as a group; and writing, as a single group, the waveform or waveforms, among the plurality of waveforms, that have the same segment group information onto one of prescribed storage segments that are storage regions of prescribed sizes in the secondary storage device.

Abstract: A foot-operated pedal for programming audio and other effects, including an HMI or Human-Machine Interface that digitally communicates with a CPU, providing the parameters of effects set by the user, where a PC Interface is responsible for the mediation of the communication between the CPU and an external computer used to program the settings and adjustments of the device, with the audio interface having the function of promoting the compatibility between the electrical signal from the musical instrument and the CPU. A graphical user interface to facilitate the creation of an audio effect using icons, a given configuration of icons and interconnections being modeled and employed to generate a given audio effect.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide methods, computer program products, and systems to for automatic key transposition. Embodiments of the present invention can be used to determine compatibility between a known melody capable of being generated by a pitch generation system and a first performance profile associated with a first performer that performs in conjunction with the pitch generation system. Embodiments of the present invention can be further used to determine an appropriate key to update one or more pitches associated with the known melody, to be generated by the pitch generation system during the performance by the first performer, based on the compatibility between the first performance profile and the known melody.

Abstract: A device for monitoring tension equalization and displacement adjustment states of steel wire ropes of a multi-rope hoister includes a displacement sensor mounted on a steel wire rope tension equalization device, a signal acquisition transmitter designed to store and transmit signals of the displacement sensor, a barometric altimeter designed to detect the depth of a mine shaft where a hoisting container is located, and a wireless receiving and processing system arranged at the well mouth of the mine shaft.

Abstract: A hands-free music notation display system for playing digital sheet music. The system includes a tablet that displays digital sheet music and houses the system's operating components therein. The housing within the tablet includes a communication link connecting the tablet to one or more foot controls. The foot controls provide the ability for a user to display the next or previous page on the tablet with his or her foot, thereby permitting the user to remain hands-free to play an instrument. The tablet includes a plurality of buttons that permit a user to load and play sheet music thereon.

Abstract: A drum beater shaft with a flexible coupling means disposed between the base portion of the shaft and the head portion of the shaft is disclosed. The base portion of the shaft is fixed and hingedly attached, typically, to a pedal operated actuator. The head portion of the shaft contains a striking device used to contact the drum when actuated by the pedal. In one preferred embodiment, the flexible coupling means disposed between the base portion and head portion of the drum beater shaft takes the form of a spring surrounded by an elastic sheath. In another preferred embodiment, the flexible coupling means takes the form of a universal joint surrounded by an elastic sheath, In yet another preferred embodiment, the flexible coupling means takes the form of a ball an socket joint surrounded by and elastic sheath.

Abstract: An electronic keyboard musical instrument with a plurality of keys is provided. The electronic keyboard musical instrument comprises a detection sensor configured to detect a gentle key press to an adjacent position that is shallower than and adjacent to a resonant performance position; a computer configured to, when the detection sensor detects a gentle key press to the adjacent position of at least one first key, execute a resonance permission process to give a permission to output a resonant tone of the at least one first key; and a tone emission device configured to, when at least one second key different from the at least one first key and having a resonant relationship with the at least one first key is regularly pressed, emit a regular tone of the at least one second key and the resonant tone of the at least one first key.

Abstract: A musical instrument, having; at least one solar panel which corresponds to the body of the musical instrument, where the at least one solar panel is outwardly facing the sun; a battery to store solar energy; a power control board; an amplifier; an interactive display for monitoring a plurality of levels corresponding to a variety of components of the musical instrument; a strap connected to the musical instrument; the strap has at least one solar panel; at least one speaker for emitting sound; a bridge; a port; a stand, where the stand has at least one solar panel; and a carrying case; where the carrying case has at least one solar panel.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for producing musical data, which includes a glove equipped with touch sensors and a terminal device. In the glove there are touch sensors in at least two rows the format of a selected musical scale, which touch sensors are arranged to be pushed with a finger of the other hand, connection means for connecting the touch sensors to a selected terminal device in order to produce musical data according to the format. The touch sensors are arranged in such a way that in an order from the index finger to the little finger, the tips of the fingers correspond to the consecutive notes of a first octave C, D, E, F, so that the semitone E-F is located between the ring finger and the little finger.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating control of midi-sequence generation is disclosed. The apparatus may include a midi-sequence module configured for generating midi-sequences. Further, the apparatus may also include a foot-operated switch configured to operate the midi-sequence module. Additionally, the apparatus may include a docking station configured to connect the apparatus to a mobile device. Accordingly, the midi-sequence module may be controlled through the mobile device. Further, in some embodiments the midi-sequence module may be included in the mobile device instead of the apparatus. Accordingly, the apparatus may include a switch port configured to electrically couple the foot-operated switch with the mobile device in order to control the midi-sequence module included in the mobile device.